RBS awaits hefty fines for Libor rigging

Source: The Guardian

It sounds like such fun. A Royal Bank of Scotland trader quips "hahaha" in a series of jovial electronic exchanges as he goes about his work.

But it will soon become clear that however much fun the trader felt he was having, the repercussions for the bailed-out bank will be anything but when it is hit with a staggering £500m or so in fines for manipulating Libor.

Ever since Barclays was fined £290m in June for rigging the benchmark interest rate, Stephen Hester, the RBS chief executive, has been softening the ground for the bailed-out bank to suffer a similar – or worse – humiliation by regulators on both sides on Atlantic.

Hester's counterpart at Barclays, Bob Diamond, was forced out within days of the Libor fine being announced in June but the RBS chief executive will be hoping to secure the support of regulators even though the fixing of Libor appears to have carried on for two years after he was parachuted in during October 2008.

3. You'd think the need is simple on this issue

You fine the company for all profits made on the illegal action and sentence prison time accordingly. If not, what is the deterrent to conduct business properly. Banks have proven time and again that they will tolerate a law breaker as long as that law breaker makes a profit and doesn't get caught.

6. Can You Give Me One Recent Example

7. No incentive. Corporate punishments rarely if ever...

...excede the gain made before getting caught.

When it costs $100,000 to legally dispose of a truckload of blue asbestos wool, and the fine is $30,000, WTF do you think happens after the inspector knocks off for the day. (Numbers plucked from bum for illustrative purposes only)